# clean sth up

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/clean-sth-up
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to make a place or a thing tidy and remove any dirt or mess.

For teachers: to remove dirt, refuse, or disorder from a specific area or object; often implies a thorough restoration of order.

## Examples

- We need to clean the kitchen up before the guests arrive.
- The volunteers spent the entire Saturday morning cleaning up the local park after the music festival.
- Environmental agencies are working tirelessly to clean up the coastal regions affected by the recent industrial chemical spill.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I cleaned up it." but "I cleaned it up." — when the object is a pronoun like 'it', it must go between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- commonly used with physical spaces like rooms, parks, or streets.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'clean' (the general act) and 'tidy up' (focuses on organization rather than dirt); 'clean up' implies a more complete or intensive effort.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.